The Bayes factor to discriminate Molière and Corneille as authors of classical French plays

TL;DR

This paper uses a Bayesian statistical method to determine whether Corneille or Molière authored certain classical French plays, concluding that Corneille did not write Molière's works.

Contribution

The paper introduces a full Bayesian framework for authorship attribution that aligns with forensic science standards and legal jurisprudence.

Findings

The Bayesian analysis strongly supports Molière's authorship of the disputed plays.

The method adheres to international forensic science standards for evaluative reporting.

Results contradict claims that Corneille wrote Molière's plays in his later life.

Abstract

A question of originality was raised concerning the authorship of Molière’s plays. It has been claimed that the plays were written by Corneille in the final part of his life. This controversy is still topical, despite the relevant contributions on the subject (e.g.,1). Stylometry is often invoked to identify patterns used within and between words and sentences that describe a personal way of writing texts, and so one’s style. Despite the pioneering contribution of2, who promoted a Bayesian procedure for assessing the authorship of disputed documents, a coherent and judicially sound approach for features assessment and authorship attribution is still lacking in current practice. A full Bayesian framework to deal with the questioned authorship of the selected plays is promoted to address this controversy in total respect of (a) international standards for evaluative reporting in forensic science and (b) legal jurisprudence. Results strongly support the hypothesis that Corneille did not write Molière’s literary plays.

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